Portable storage device, wallet, or holder

ABSTRACT

A portable storage device may include a sheet of material having a first, second, third, and fourth sections, wherein the first section is contiguous with the second section along a first line, the second section is contiguous with the third section along a second line, and the third section is contiguous with the fourth section along a third line. The first section may be folded over the second section along the first line and secured to the second section to form a first pouch. The fourth section may be folded over and secured to the third section to form a second pouch. An eyelet along the second line may receive a spring clip for securing items in the portable storage device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/323,851, filed Apr. 13, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a portable storage device, such as a wallet, for example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of exemplary source material of an exemplary storage device in one embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a diagram of the exemplary storage device of FIG. 1 in one configuration;

FIG. 2B is a diagram of the exemplary storage device of FIG. 1 in another configuration with a clip;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the exemplary storage device of FIG. 1 in another configuration;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of the exemplary storage device of FIG. 1 in another configuration;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary clip in one embodiment; and

FIGS. 6A through 6E are diagrams of an exemplary storage device in another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed below provide for a means (e.g., a storage device) to allow a user to securely carry items, such as a mobile phone, cash, receipts, identification, credit cards, etc. One embodiment may allow for the carrying of an electronic device, such as a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), an MP3 player, etc. In one embodiment, the storage device may be slipped into a pant or coat pocket. In another embodiment, the storage device may be attached to an article of clothing, such as the inside or outside of the waistband of a pair of pants, a pair of shorts, a dress, a skirt, etc., via a clip when, for example, no pocket is available or when extra security is desired.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of source material 100 (e.g., a sheet) for an exemplary storage device in an unassembled configuration in one embodiment. Source material 100 may be cut or molded from plastic (e.g., flexible plastic), leather, metal, fabric, sail cloth, nylon, neoprene, etc. As shown, source material 100 may include radial cuts 105 that define four sections: sections 101, 102, 103, and 104. Other types of cuts are possible, such as “V” shaped cuts. In another embodiment, source material 100 may include a straight edge without radial cuts 105 or “V” shaped cuts.

Sections 101, 102, 103, and 104 may be substantially rectangular. Section 101 includes three edges, two adjacent line 106 and one opposite line 106. Section 102 includes two edges, both adjacent lines 106 and 107. Section 103 also includes two edges, both adjacent line 107 and 108. Section 104, like section 101 includes three edges, one opposite line 108 and two adjacent line 108. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, section 104 may be shorter along its major axis than section 103.

Source material 100 may include an eyelet cut 110 between sections 102 and 103. Eyelet cut 110 may include eyelet stitching to strengthen the material along the cut point. Eyelet stitching may also help prevent tearing of source material 100 between sections 102 and 103. Source material 100 may be folded in the directions shown by arrows 114 and 116. Section 101 may be folded in the direction of arrow 114 onto section 102. Section 104 may be folded in the direction of arrow 116 onto section 103. Such folding results in the storage device being configured as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In one embodiment, to facilitate folding, source material 100 may be pressed or indented between sections (e.g. along lines 106, 107 and/or 108).

FIG. 2A is a diagram of the exemplary storage device of FIG. 1 in one configuration 200. Section 104 may be secured (e.g., sewn) to section 103, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2A. In one embodiment, section 104 and section 103 are secured along one, two, or three sides (e.g., edges 214, 216, and 218), forming a pouch 202 with an opening 212 between sections 103 and 104. In the embodiment shown, opening 112 is along an edge of source material 100 and the surface of section 103. Pouch 202 may receive and hold items (e.g., currency, credit cards, identification, a driver's license, change, receipts, mobile phone, etc.) for storage. In one embodiment, sections 103 and 104 may be secured along edge 214 by virtue of source material 100 being made of one integral piece (e.g., sections 103 and 104 being folded). Sections 103 and 104 may be secured along edges 214 by other means (e.g., sewing, etc.).

Section 101 may be secured (e.g., sewn) to section 102, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2A. In one embodiment, sections 101 and 102 are secured along three sides, forming a pouch 201 with an opening 211 between sections 101 and 102. In the embodiment shown, opening 211 is along the divide between sections 103 and 102. Pouch 201 may receive and hold items (e.g., currency, credit cards, identification, a driver's license, change, receipts, mobile phone, etc.) for storage.

In addition to sewing sections to form pouches (e.g., pouches 201 and 202), sections may also be secured by heating and pressing the sections together (e.g., if source material 100 includes plastic). Other means of securing sections together are possible, such as by glue or staples.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary clip 500 in one embodiment. Clip 500 may be formed of metal (e.g., spring steel, titanium, etc.), plastic (e.g., molded plastic), etc. Clip 500 may include an extension portion 502 and a backing plate 504. Clip 500 may receive currency, receipts, etc. between extension portion 502 and backing plate 504, for example. Extension portion 502 may include a bend 506 that allows extension portion 502 to act as a spring to provide tension to hold items (e.g., currency, receipts, etc.) placed between extension portion 502 and backing plate 504. Backing plate 504 may also provide shape and rigidity to the storage device, as discussed below.

Extension portion 502 may be placed through eyelet 110 of the storage device in configuration 200 of FIG. 2A, resulting in the configuration 290 shown in FIG. 2B. In this configuration, pouch 202 is situated between extension portion 502 and backing plate 504.

In configuration 290 shown in FIG. 2B, pouch 201 and pouch 202 may be moved in the direction of arrow 220, resulting in the storage device being in an assembled configuration 400 shown in FIG. 4. In configuration 400, pouch 201 and pouch 202 may be secured together. In one embodiment, the edges of the storage device may be stitched so as to secure pouch 201 and pouch 202. In this embodiment, three edges (e.g., edges 402, 404, and 405) may be fastened so that a user may access opening 211 (along edge 408). In another embodiment, two edges (e.g., edge 402 and 404) of the storage device may be fastened so that a user may access an opening formed (e.g., opening 406) between sections 102 and 103 after folding pouches 201 and 202 together in the direction of arrow 220. In one embodiment, edge 408 may be secured by virtue of source material 100 being made of one integral piece.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, clip 500 may provide tension to hold material (e.g., credit cards) in pouch 202. Clip 500 also provides tension to hold material (e.g., currency) between extension portion 502 and the top surface of pouch 202 (e.g., section 104). In another embodiment, pouch 201 and 202 are not secured together along the two or three sides discussed above. Rather, pouches 201 and 202 may be free to swing in the direction of arrow 220 (FIG. 2B) and back again between configuration 290 (FIG. 2B) and configuration 400 (FIG. 4).

The exact dimensions of source material 100 may depend on whether it is intended to carry large items (large bills, larger mobile phones, etc.) or smaller items (small bills, smaller mobile phones, etc). In one embodiment, the size of the assembled storage device (e.g., configuration 200, 290, or 400) may be approximately the size of a conventional wallet. Source material 100 may be formed from a single piece of material (as shown in FIG. 1), or from multiple pieces of material secured together. For example, each of sections 101, 102, 103, and 104 may each be a separate piece of material fastened together. Forming source material 100 from a single piece of material, however, may allow for easier and faster manufacture of the storage device.

In one embodiment, the size of clip 500 is scaled to match the size of source material 100. In another embodiment, the size of clip 500 may be such that it is suitable for any size of source material 100 in any configuration (e.g., configuration 200, 290, or 400). As shown in FIG. 5, backing plate 504 may be approximately 3.5 inches by 2.25 inches. Likewise, the size of each section of source material 100 (e.g., sections 101, 102, 103, 104) may be slightly larger than 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches to accommodate clip 500. In one embodiment, backing plate 504 may be approximately the size of a credit card. In one embodiment, the size of the assembled storage device may be approximately 2.5 by 4.5 inches to accommodate a mobile phone.

In one embodiment, clip 500 may be integrally formed of one piece of material. In another embodiment, clip 500 may be formed of multiple pieces of material. In one embodiment, the width of backing plate 504 is wider than eyelet 110. As a result, when in configuration 400 (FIG. 4), clip 500 may be secured within the storage device. In another embodiment, eyelet 110 is approximately as wide or wider than the backing plate 504. In this embodiment, clip 500 may be removed and/or reinserted into the storage device. In this embodiment, eyelet 110 may also form an opening to a pouch (not shown), allowing the storage device to receive items similarly to pouch 201. In this embodiment, three sides or edges (e.g., edges 402, 404, and 405) of the storage device may be fastened as shown in configuration 400 (FIG. 4) so as to form the additional pouch. In one embodiment, eyelet 110 is only slightly larger than extension portion 502. The shape and the size of clip 500 illustrated in the drawings herein is just one embodiment.

In one embodiment, extension portion 502 may include engraving to identify the owner of the device or the manufacturer, the product name, or company logo (e.g., “The Stash”). In an alternative embodiment, clip 500 may be omitted, as shown in the configuration 300 of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, eyelet 110 may be wide so as to form an opening and an additional pouch with an opening (hidden in FIG. 3).

In one embodiment, the user can slip the storage device into a pocket for safe keeping. Alternatively, the user can clip the storage device onto the waistband using, for example, clip 500. In this embodiment, the storage device can be worn outside of the waistband or inside the waistband for more security. In configuration 290, where pouch 201 and pouch 202 can move with respect to each other in the direction of arrow 220, pouch 201 may be place inside the waistband while pouch 202 may be moved to rest outside the waistband.

FIG. 6A is a diagram of exemplary source material 600 (e.g., a sheet) for another embodiment of a storage device. Source material may include sections 602, 604, 608, 610, and 612. Sections 602, 604, 608, 610, and 612 may each be substantially rectangular. As shown, section 602 includes three edges, two adjacent the line between sections 602 and 604 and one opposite the line between sections 602 and 604. Section 604 includes two edges, both adjacent the line between sections 604 and 608 and adjacent the line between section 602 and 604. Likewise, section 608 includes two edges adjacent the line between section 604 and 608 and adjacent the line between section 608 and 610. Further, section 610 includes two edges adjacent the line between sections 608 and 610 and adjacent the line between sections 610 and 612. Section 612 includes three edges, two adjacent the line between sections 610 and 612 and one opposite the line between sections 610 and 612. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, section 612 may be shorter along its major axis than section 103.

In one embodiment, section 612 may be folded under section 610 in the direction of arrow 624. Section 612 may be secured to section 610 along three edges to form pouch 616, as shown in FIG. 6B, with an opening 632. Pouch 616 may be secured along three edges (e.g., with stitching) as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 6B or by virtue, for example, of section 610 and section 612 being integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 6B, section 602 may be folded over onto section 604 in the direction of arrow 620. Section 604 may be secured to section 602 along three edges to form pouch 618 (shown in FIG. 6C) with an opening 634. Pouch 618 may be secured along three edges (e.g., with stitching) as indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 6C and by virtue, for example, of section 602 and section 604 being integrally formed.

An eyelet 614 may pass clip 500 such that extension portion 502 passes under section 608 and backing plate 504 is above section 608, as shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C. Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, section 610 may be folded over section 608 in the direction of arrow 622 to capture backing plate 504 of clip 500 between sections 608 and 610, as shown in configuration 690 of FIG. 6D. In one embodiment, sections 608 and 610 may be secured together along all four sides or edges. In another embodiment, sections 608 and 610 may be secured along fewer (three, two, or one) side to form an additional pouch.

As shown in configuration 690 of FIG. 6D, pouch 618 may be folded under pouch 616 in the direction of arrow 630, resulting in the configuration 692 of FIG. 6E. Pouch 618 may also be unfolded in the opposite direction of arrow 630, such that the storage device may move from configuration 690 to configuration 692 and back again. In one embodiment, the storage device may allow the user to wear pouch 618 either inside or outside the waistband while pouch 616 is inside the waistband.

Pouch 618 may be used, for example, to store a mobile phone or a PDA. Pouch 618 may be reached through opening 634. Pouch 616 may be used, for example, to store cash, credit cards, etc. Pouch 616 may be reached through opening 634.

In one embodiment, pouches 201, 202, 616 and/or 618 may be made with material that may stretch so that, for example, a mobile phone may be inserted into these pouches. In another embodiment, pouches 201, 202, 616, and/or 618 may be made with excess material such that, for example, a mobile phone may be placed into these pouches. For example, any one of these pouches may be sized and configured to securely fit an iPhone, a Blackberry, a Motorola Razr, etc. In another embodiment, an additional layer of material may be added to the outside of pouches 201, 202, 616, and/or 618 to form an additional pouch.

In one embodiment, the pouches (e.g., pouches 202, 201, 616, and/or 618) may include two openings (e.g., another opening opposite opening 212, where pouch 202 is secured on two sides). In another embodiment, the pouches (e.g., pouch 201) may be secured along different edges (e.g., creating an opening 213 rather than opening 211). In yet another embodiment, the pouches (e.g., pouch 201) may be secured along three different edges (e.g., creating an opening for pouch 201 along the edge opposite opening 213). In another embodiment, pouch 201 may be branded with a logo or product name. In another embodiment, the stitched edges of the storage device (e.g., a cloth holder) may use surge stitching to attached the layers (e.g., layers of cloth) together to form the pouches that hold physical objects.

While the sections of source materials 100 and 600 are shown of equal size, the sections may be of differing sizes. For example, section 101 may have a shorter length (in the direction of the major axis of source material 100) than section 102. As such, opening 211 to pouch 201 may be set back from line 106 between sections 101 and 102. In another embodiment, the pouches (e.g., pouches 201 and 202 may be of various different sizes (e.g., pouches 201 and 202 may be different sizes than shown). Further, the pouches (e.g., pouches 201 and 202) may be of differing sizes than each other. For example, pouch 201 may be larger than pouch 202, or vice versa. Some embodiments may include clip 500, while other embodiments may not include clip 500.

As the term is used herein, a “pouch” may also be considered a “pocket.” While source materials 100 and 600 may include sheets in which the sections (e.g., sections 602, 604, 608, 610, and 612) are integrally formed, in other embodiments, one or more sections may not be integrally formed. In this embodiment, the separate sections may be secured to each other using stitches, etc. (e.g., along the dotted lines as shown in the figures).

In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. 

1. A portable storage device comprising: a sheet of material having a first, second, third, and fourth sections, wherein the first section is contiguous with the second section along a first line, the second section is contiguous with the third section along a second line, and the third section is contiguous with the fourth section along a third line; wherein the first section is folded over the second section along the first line and secured to the second section to form a first pouch, wherein the fourth section is folded over and secured to the third section to form a second pouch; wherein the second section and the third section includes an eyelet along the second line for receiving a spring clip for securing items in the portable storage device.
 2. The portable storage device of claim 1, wherein the first section includes a first edge adjacent the first line and a second edge adjacent the first line, wherein the second section includes a third edge adjacent the second line and a fourth edge adjacent the second line; wherein the first section is secured to the second section along the first edge and the third edge, and wherein the first section is secured to the second section along and along the second edge and the fourth edge.
 3. The portable storage device of claim 2, wherein the third section includes a fifth edge adjacent third line and a sixth edge adjacent the third line; wherein the fourth section includes a seventh edge opposite the third line and an eighth edge adjacent the third line; wherein the third section is secured to the fourth section along the eighth edge; wherein the third section is secured to the fourth section along the seventh edge and the fifth edge or along the seventh edge and the sixth edge.
 4. The portable storage device of claim 3, wherein the first pouch and the second pouch move relative to each other along the second line. 